2. A Video Nasty is a movie that was banned from being distributed in
the UK. This came around due to the National Viewers’ and Listeners
Association. Films were started to be released on tape, a new
technology in the 1980’s. Smaller companies caught on that there was
nothing to state they couldn’t release their films on tape without
being sanctioned by UK Film Censors, this meant lots of horror films
were sold in the UK on tape even though they were banned in UK
cinemas. These films were going against the “Obscene Publications
Act” that prohibits “Deprave and Corrupt” materials to be distributed.
3. The media can be held responsible for authorities acting upon these
‘video nasties’. The Daily Mail headlined its newspapers claiming they
were affecting young people and a danger to society as the twisted
plots could actually influence immoral and wicked people. A new
law, the video recoding's act, forced video tape regulation which
prevented the sale of video nasties.
4. 74 films in total were prosecutes, these include -
Cannibal Holocaust (1980)
- Due for anaimal abuse and graphic gore
I Spit On Your Grave (1989)
- Sexual abuse (gang rape)
The Driller Killer (1999)
- Graphic gore (drilled through victims head)
SS Experiment Camp
- Graphic sexual assault
The Evil Dead (1981)
- Violent
5. All films from the list are now available to watch. They varied having from 30
seconds to 10 minutes edited out. When you watch them now due to the
graphical content compared to the detail and effects we have today people
may not be too phased, however the views people have of young children
watching graphic gore hasn’t changed.
6. Today all films are looked at by the British Board Of Film
Classification (BBFC) Due to film makers being aware of the
restrictions very rarely are eve banned to this day, if there is
something wrong they are simply re-edited and put with an over
18 rating. An example of this is Human Centipede 2, which was
stated by BBFC to be “tasteless and disgusting” but after 2
minutes and 37 seconds were cut the film was released in the
UK.